Cristina Oxtra
Filipino American author Cristina Oxtra earned an MFA in creative writing for children and young adults and a BA in journalism. Her debut picture book, What Lolo Wants, is a 2025 Minnesota Book Awards Finalist and she was named 2025 McKnight Fellowship Artist & Culture Bearer Honorable Mention. Cristina is a former journalist, former educator, a veteran, and public relations professional.
Tell us about the featured book. What is it about, and why did you choose to write this story?
My debut picture book, What Lolo Wants, features a little Filipina girl, Maria, and her grandfather, Lolo, and is set in the Philippines, where I was born and raised. Every night, Maria and Lolo love to draw together. But one day, things start to change. Lolo does not feel well. And when Maria asks him to draw, he says he needs to rest. Not long after, Lolo begins to forget people’s names, and soon he cannot find the words for what he wants. Maria is determined to find a way to help Lolo communicate. The story highlights a strong intergenerational bond between a child and her beloved grandfather and can serve as a conversation starter about how to navigate through family changes by continuing to care and connect. Tagalog words are also incorporated into the story.
I wrote What Lolo Wants while I was pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing for children and young adults at Hamline University. The story was inspired by and is dedicated to my maternal grandfather my lolo. Lolo means grandfather in the Tagalog language. My lolo and I were close and he taught me how to draw. He also said I would one day go to the United States and have the opportunity to pursue my dreams. When he became ill and started losing his memory, it was heartbreaking. Sadly, he passed away before my parents and I immigrated to the U.S.
The story is also dedicated to my maternal grandmother, my lola, who used to buy me children’s magazines that fueled my love of reading. When I was a child, she said I would be a journalist one day. When I went to college, I earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and worked as a journalist for a few years.
Both my lolo and lola are in the book. What Lolo Wants represents my grandparents’ hopes and dreams for me. It’s also my way of honoring and thanking them for believing in me and nurturing my interests from an early age. Their memory lives on in the book.
Tell us a little about your writing process. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Oftentimes, I start writing a story when I can hear the characters talking in my head. I write out conversations between the characters. I also picture in my mind where these conversations may be happening. I picture them like scenes in a movie or a TV show. Their dialogue helps me place them where they are, what they may be doing, the expressions on their faces, and so on, and I build the action and story outward from there. I know a scene is working when I can feel the emotion that I want readers to feel when they read that scene.
When it comes to research, the amount of time I spend on it depends on the topic and whenever a publisher would like for an outline or manuscript to be submitted. I’ll use whatever resources I can find -- books, articles, studies, movies, documentaries, videos, news reports. If I can connect with a subject matter expert or someone with personal experience on a topic, I’ll also reach out to them. The more resources, the better. I’ll create a document containing all the resources and information I’ve gathered and use it as my reference whenever needed.
Research is important. As an author, you never want readers to notice a factual error or inconsistency that pulls them out of the story. This would ruin their reading experience and make them question the plausibility of your story. You want readers to be fully immersed in the story to the point that they believe in the characters, their personalities, their backstory, their emotions, and their actions and reactions, and all that is happening around them.
For me, one of the most difficult parts of writing is finding time. With a fulltime job, family, community involvement, author visits, teaching writing, and other commitments, finding time to write can be a challenge. It’s always a juggling act. I’m often writing in the evenings, after work, and on the weekends. Whenever there is a pocket of time, I will try to write.
Are there any writers or authors who have influenced your writing? If not, who are some of your favorite writers?
I’m inspired by Asian American and Filipino American authors, who have paved the way and serve as outstanding examples for all writers, including Erin Entrada Kelly, Randy Ribay, Niña Mata, Mia P. Manansala, Kao Kalia Yang, Bao Phi, Remy Lai, Debbi Michiko Florence, Grace Lin, and many others.
I’m also driven by my passion for representation in children and young adult literature. When I was growing up, I didn’t see myself in books. Now, I write stories that feature diverse characters and uplift diverse voices and, especially Filipino main characters. I want young Filipinos to see themselves in books in classrooms, libraries, and bookstores, and hopefully also in movies and TV shows inspired by books featuring Filipino characters. I want to show them that they can be the main character in stories, the heroes. Not just a sidekick, a villain, or comic relief. I want them to know they matter, that their culture, stories, and life experiences matter, and they should be proud of who they are. I also want others to learn more about Filipinos, our history and culture, and our many contributions to the United States and the world.
Has a library or librarian impacted your life or your writing life?
Libraries and librarians can change lives. When my family and I immigrated to the United States, adapting to a new school, new country, and a new way of life wasn’t easy. I didn’t feel like I fit in and I was lonely. Until the day I discovered the school library. The librarian welcomed me and told me all about the library. She was so sweet and had the warmest smile. I borrowed one book that day.
The following week, I checked out another book, then another, and another. From there, I read more and more books, including fiction, history, biographies, contemporary, fantasy, and more! Not a weekend went by that I didn’t come home with books from the library. I also helped the librarian shelve books, decorate for the seasons and holidays, and made friends with fellow students who also enjoyed books. The library became my happy place. Over time, my love of books, reading, and the written word grew along with me, so much so that I was inspired to become a writer. And here I am today, an author. Thanks to that memorable library experience and a kind librarian.
When you’re not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?
When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family, listening to audio books and podcasts, watching cooking and baking TV shows, looking into all things spooky, going to comic cons, seeing plays and musicals since I used to perform in theatre, playing word games, and drawing. As a 3rd Dan/3rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, I also enjoy training, competing, and teaching Taekwondo and working out with friends.
Favorite place to go in Minnesota?
I love visiting Minnesota’s many libraries and bookstores, shopping at ethnic grocery stores or markets, eating cuisine from different countries at the many restaurants, festivals, and special events in and around the Twin Cities, and exploring historical and reportedly haunted places across the state.